PROTEST: Family members of Flight MH370 passengers blasted the Malaysian government [REUTERS]

Just hours after Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak confirmed that any hope of finding survivors was lost, an unidentified family member read out a statement at the Beijing hotel where many of the relatives of those on board were staying, denouncing the airline, the Malaysian government and military for "constantly trying to delay, hide and cover up the truth".

The family member told reporters: "These despicable acts have not only fooled and devastated physically and mentally the families of our 154 Chinese passengers, at the same time they have also misled and delayed the rescue operation, wasted a lot of manpower, material resources and lost the most precious time for the rescue efforts.

"If our 154 loved ones on board have lost their precious lives on the plane because of this, then Malaysia Airlines, the Malaysia government and the Malaysia military are the real executioners who have killed our loved ones."

The families protested outside the Malaysian Embassy in Beijing this morning, where they threw plastic water bottles, tried to storm the gate and chanted: "Liars!"

ANGER: Family members threw bottles at the Malaysian embassy in Beijing [AP]

GRIEF: Some still believe their relatives will be found alive [REUTERS]

“I want the truth, and I believe they have been hiding some information from us”

Wang Zhen

Wearing white T-shirts that read "Let's pray for MH370", they held banners and chanted: "Tell the truth! Return our relatives!"

The group of about 100 relatives handed in a letter of protest to the embassy before getting into several buses and departing.

Mystery still surrounds the reasons why the plane changed course, and family members are demanding answers – and holding on to hope that there may yet be survivors.

Wang Zhen, whose parents were on Flight 370, said: "I want the truth, and I believe they have been hiding some information from us.

"It remains an enigma as to what happened after the plane turned around.

"What happened when the plane continued to fly?

"I am still hoping for my parents' return, even though I understand the probability is very, very low."

The families were informed of the news the plane had crashed into the ocean by TEXT yesterday, and the Malaysian government have defended notifying them in such an insensitive way.

Malaysia Airlines chief executive Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said: "Our sole and only motivation last night was to ensure that in the incredibly short amount of time available to us the families heard the tragic news before the world did.

"Wherever humanly possible we did so in person with the families or by telephone using SMS as a last resort of ensuring fully that nearly 1,000 family members heard the news from us and not from the media.

"Ever since the disappearance of the flight Malaysia Airlines’ focus has been to comfort and support the families of those involved."

The search for the plane has been suspended as bad weather and rough seas continue to hamper the efforts.